Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-06-03
THE PURPLE PLUME.

Mlfrored in the clear waters of the
Rhine were the gray towers Of Aver
boch's ancient castle.
The fourteenth century had Just be-
gun and over the great German land had
ruled Albert IL. First, the unworthy son
of his great sire, Rudolph, the first of
the Hapsburg line.
When Rudolph was but simple
count, long before he ever dared to
dream that he would one day rule as
Emperor over great Germany, the castle
of Avcrboch was held by stout war
rior, known only too we'll as Everhard
the Red, because he was ruthless and
bloody soldier. Evcrhard was count,
and yet his castle was but robbers den.
from which the rcd bearded lord sailed
forth at the head of his mail cad
rufians TO seize the property of honest
men weaker than himself.
But when Rudolph of Hapsburg as I
sumcd the German crown, he gave warn
ing to all the robber knights within his
domnions that their reign Of terror was
over.
Live in peace or war with mo-" said
the iron-handed emperor, aud he meant
every word of the simple uttcrance.
And Everhard the R.d, grown bod
from long career of crime. lauohed nj
the warning.
"All Gcrmany's might cannot tear me
from my walls at Averboch," he cried in
contempt. Let this new made en-
peror come, and I, the Rcdbeard of the
Rhine, will teach him that he is no more
powerful because the do;ing monks have
mumb'ed few prayers over him, and
placed an empty crown upon his head,
than he was when he was but the Count
Of Hapsburg."
And Rudolph did come at the head of
a mai-clad army that made even stern
Eycrhard wink in wonder.
A line of steel the German Enperor
lrew arouOd the castle, and coolly he
sat down and waited for famine's gnaw-
ing tooth and thirsts bitter pang to fl sht
his battle for him.
The willy warrior did not wait in vain,
for after being shut up within the strong
tower for four weeks, the desperate
Eyerhard could endure it no longer, and
so, at the midnight hour, sailed forth
at the head of his force and endeavored
to cut his way through the line of mai ed
men that was crushing the life out of
him.
The robbers knights found foemcn
worthy Of their steel, and, surrounded
by overwhelming numbers, the Rheni.h
Redbeard died a soldiers death.
Serving under Rudolph was a distant
relation of the dead knight, poor, bu'
worthy soldier, named Conrad or KIP
hausen, and as he had neither lands nor
wealth, nothing but his good sword and
pretty young slip of a girl, the German
emperor bestowed the castle and lands
of Aberboch upon his devoted follower.
Rudolph prospared and Conried
thrived, and, after years had passed,
when the German ruler yielded to death,
his faithful soldier did not long survive
him.
In 1898 the battle of Worms was
fought, which gave to Rudolph's son
Albert, the imperial crown Of Germany,
the crown that on account of his cruel
and tyrannical acts, had been denied
hlm.
For three years after that battle tie
German emperor was engaged in war
fare-frst with the ling of Bohemia,
and afterward with the pope. Boniface
VIII But when the wars were endel,
Albert commenced to reward the tools
who had aided him TO climb to the
heights of power.
Foremost among the emperor's favor
ties wa soldier of fortune, Ludwig 0.